Murphys Creek Theatre will present "Almost, Maine" at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 22 at the Black Bart Playhouse at 580 S. Algiers St. in Murphys. For reservations, call 728-8422 or visit www.murphyscreektheatre.org.

Sierra Repertory Theatre will present the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "Cinderella" through Saturday, Dec. 22, at the Fallon House Theater in Columbia State Historic Park. Curtain times are 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. For reservations, call 532-3120 or visit www.sierrarep.org.

Art

The Calaveras County Arts Council will present its annual "Affordable Gifts of Art" show through Jan. 5 at 22 Main St. in San Andreas. A reception will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8. Regular gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 754-1774 or visit www.calaverasarts.org.

Columbia College will present Native American artifacts in the William Walter Collection through Friday, Dec. 21, in the Manzanita Rotunda on campus. Items on display include pottery, baskets, weaving, Kachina dolls, beaded ornaments and wearing apparel, dating from the early 19th century to the middle of the 20th century. Viewing hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

"Art in the Library," a rotating exhibit at the Tuolumne County Library at 480 Greenley Road in Sonora, will feature four textile artists in November and December. All four - Lynette Eads, Susan Long, Jan DeShera and Constance Shields - are members of the Mother Lode Weavers and Spinners Guild. For more information, call 533-5507.

Renetta Hayes and Kathleen Davids are the Mother Lode Art Association's featured artists for November and December. Their paintings can be seen in the front windows of Servente's at 64 S. Washington St. in Sonora.

Arts of Bear Valley featured artists for December are Judy Morgan, who specializes in painting flowers, animals and local scenery in watercolor, and Deborah Kearney, who paints scenery and florals in watercolor and acrylics. Their works can be seen in the Window Gallery in the Meadowmont Shopping Center in Arnold.

Music

Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys will present its 11th annual "Sounds of the Season" Christmas concert at 4 p.m. Saturday. A buffet dinner will follow the concert. Ticket prices are $40 for adults and $20 for children 12 and under. Those who bring a non-perishable food item for donation to the Resource Connection will receive $5 off the adult admission price. Reservations are required. Most past concerts have sold out. Performers will include Makena Clark on violin, Katie Tanner on percussion, vocalists Paula Christ and Sally and pianist Helen Kimzey Plowman and Patti Hennessee. Special guests this year will be the Grass Valley Male Voice Choir, presenting Cornish music, Broadway tunes, American classics, spirituals and Christmas favorites. For reservations or more information, call Ironstone Vineyards at 728-1251, ext. 11.

The second annual Swing Gitane Holiday Swing Dance Party will take place from 7 to 10 p. m. Saturday at the Aronos Women's Research Club at 37 E.Elkin St. in Sonora. Admission is $10 per person or $15 per couple. Participants are asked to bring refreshments to share.

A Drum Circle takes place each Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Courthouse Square in Sonora. All ages are welcome and no experience is necessary. Admission is free, with donations accepted to offset expenses. For more information, call Rona Hempstead at 984-3774.

A Drum Circle takes place from 4:30 to 6 p.m. each Sunday at World Mercantile at 1267 S. Main St. in Angels Camp. All ages and abilities are welcome. Family karaoke is featured from 6 to 10 p.m. Fridays, with an open microphone from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Saturdays. All events are free. For more information, call 890-7155.

EVENTS

Columbia State Historic Park will present its annual Lamplight Tours on Friday and Saturday. Participants will be guided through the decorated town by lamplight viewing vignettes along the way. "The Seven Pound Christmas Nugget" script was written by Columbia docents based on newspapers of actual events in 1853. The tour will end with refreshments at Angelo's Hall. Tours leave every 15 minutes beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday and 5:30 p.m. Saturday. All tickets are $18 on Friday. Saturday prices are $22 for adults, $20 for ages 6 to 15 and seniors 62 and over. Ages 5 and under free both nights.Tickets may be purchased by calling 682-5754. All proceeds will benefit the nonprofit Friends of Columbia in the funding of interpretive and educational events and programs at Columbia State Historic Park.

The Kiwanis Club of Greater Sonora will hold an Open Air Market from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the Mono Village Center in East Sonora. For more information, call Al Smith at 532-0140.

The Sonora Lions Club will serve a Pancakes Breakfast on Saturday at Applebee's restaurant in Sonora. Seating will be offered 8 and 9 a.m. Tickets are $7 each or two for $12, available by calling 536-9756, 533-7766 or 586-6045. Proceeds will support the club's community projects.

Jamestown United Methodist Sunshine Ladies will hold their annual Christmas Bazaar and Teddy Bear Craft Fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Jamestown Community Hall. Hand embroidered tea towels and pillowcase sets, quilts, afghans, linens, baked goods, candy, teddy bears and more will be available. Prize drawings and a hot dog and chili lunch also will be offered. All monies raised will go toward the upkeep and restoration of the 160-year-old church, as well as the support of missions including Interfaith Community Social Services and the Amador-Tuolumne Community Action Agency. There also will be a barrel for canned food donations and warm clothing. For more information, call Marilyn Richardson at 785-2757 or Dorothy Eiserer at 984-3511.

A Holiday Bazaar will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Odd Fellow Hall at 1275 S. Main St. in Angels Camp. Homemade gifts, baked goods and a cookie decorating station will be featured.

The Valley Springs Christmas Parade will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at California and Chestnut streets. Also Saturday, the Valley Springs Craft Faire will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Veteran's Hall at 189 Pine St. For more information, call 598-1467.

The Angels Camp Business Association will sponsor the annual Angels Camp Centennial Holiday Open House and Parade on Saturday. The open house will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. with caroling, music, hay rides, children's art, food and more. The parade will start at 2 p.m. on Main Street. Santa Claus will be at the Calaveras County Visitors Bureau at 1192 S. Main St. For more information, call Tey Cross at 736-1333 or e-mail teycross@yahoo.com .

New Melones Reservoir will sponsor an Angels Creek Kayak Trip at 10 a.m. Saturday. Participants should meet at the Angels Creek Boat Launch in the Glory Hole Recreation Area. Advance registration is required. Call 536-9094, ext. 236, to reserve a place. The ranger-led paddling tour is open to experienced swimmers with their own kayak or other non-motorized boat. Expect to be out paddling for three hours. Participants need to bring their own boat, Coast Guard-approved life jacket, paddles, sunscreen, hat, water and lunch. There is no charge. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Santa Claus will be at The Junction shopping center in his house under the clock from 11 a. m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 23 and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Monday, Dec. 24. For more information, call 533-3548.

The Iota Epsilon Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma will present the fourth annual "Santa's Gone Hawaiian" family concert of seasonal stories and songs, featuring storyteller B.Z. Smith and Peg Reza's Blue Shoes Auxiliary Ukulele Orchestra, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Stage 3 Theatre at 208 S. Green St. in Sonora. Tickets are $5, including refreshments. Children 2 and under are free. Advance tickets are available at Mountain Bookshop and Stage 3 Theatre. Non-perishable food items also will be accepted for the Mother Lode Food Project and ATCAA Food Bank. "Santa's Gone Hawaiian" is a benefit for Delta Kappa Gamma's family literacy project, "Read to Me," which encourages families to read together. For more information, call 532-7697 or email bz@hive.arts.org.

The Sonora branch of AAUW will hold its 46th annual Home Tour from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. The event will include a tour of four homes in the Sonora area, plus tea and cookies, boutique and basket raffle in Faith Hall at the Presbyterian Church of the 49ers in Columbia. Tickets are $20, available at Mountain Bookshop, and Columbia Candle and Soap Works, or by calling 586-1322. Proceeds will benefit scholarships for women. For more information, call 532-6604 or visit aauwsonora.org.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at Mary Laveroni Community Park in Groveland at 4 p.m. Saturday, with candy canes and gifts for the children. Hot chocolate will be provided by the Garrotte Lions Club. Lighting of the Christmas trees will occur at dusk. In the event of rain, Santa will arrive at the Groveland Fire Station.

Historic Sierra No. 3 steam engine from Railtown 1897 State Park will make an appearance in Sonora from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Hospital Road and South Washington Street. Visitors will have the opportunity to climb aboard and visit with Santa Claus. Hot chocolate, carolers and holiday lights will be part of the free event. The visit is being presented by Rotary and Kiwanis clubs in cooperation with Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, the Sierra Northern Railway, the California State Railroad Museum Foundation, and J.S. West as a way to say "thank you" to the community for helping "Keep Railtown Rolling."

The Angels-Murphys-Arnold Boosters Club Snowsports Program will sponsor a screening of the new Warren Miller ski film "Flow State" at 7 p.m. Saturday at Bret Harte High School in Angels Camp. Tickets are $20, including a mid-week lift ticket voucher for Bear Valley and entry into prize drawings. Proceeds will help support youth participation in winter sports teams and school snow experience programs. Tickets are available at http://amayouthsports.eventbrite.com . For more information, visit www.amayouthsports.com .

American Legion Post 58 will serve a Pancake Breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. Sunday at Sonora Veterans Memorial Hall at 9 N. Washington St. in downtown Sonora. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for children 6 to 12. For more information, call 533-0427.

The New Melones Visitor Center will present "The Little Engine That Could," an easy 2.5-mile hike along the old Sierra Railroad tracks, on Sunday. Participants should meet at 10 a.m. at the visitors center on Highway 49 to caravan to the Stevenot Bridge. There is no charge. For more information, call 536-9543.

Ballroom Dancing will take place Sunday at the Aronos Club at 37 E. Elkin St. in Sonora. Beginning Latin lessons will be offered from 2 to 3 p.m. for $8, which includes a donation to the Mentoring Works program. Open dancing will follow from 3 to 4:30 p.m. for a donation of $2 or more to Mentoring Works. For more information, call Arno Lascari at 588-8071.